The Historian

By: Elizabeth Kostova

Narrated by: Justine Eyre, Paul Michael

Length: 26 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Late one night, exploring her father's library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters. The letters are all addressed to "My dear and unfortunate successor", and they plunge her into a world she never dreamed of: a labyrinth where the secrets of her father's past and her mother's mysterious fate connect to an inconceivable evil hidden in the depths of history.

The letters provide links to one of the darkest powers that humanity has ever known, and to a centuries-long quest to find the source of that darkness and wipe it out. It is a quest for the truth about Vlad the Impaler, the medieval ruler whose barbarous reign formed the basis of the legend of Dracula. Generations of historians have risked their reputations, their sanity, and even their lives to learn the truth about Vlad the Impaler and Dracula. Now one young woman must decide whether to take up this quest herself, to follow her father in a hunt that nearly brought him to ruin years ago, when he was a vibrant young scholar and her mother was still alive.

What does the legend of Vlad the Impaler have to do with the modern world? Is it possible that the Dracula of myth truly existed, and that he has lived on, century after century, pursuing his own unknowable ends? The answers to these questions cross time and borders, as first the father and then the daughter search for clues, from dusty Ivy League libraries to Istanbul, Budapest, and the depths of Eastern Europe. In city after city, in monasteries and archives, in letters and in secret conversations, the horrible truth emerges about Vlad the Impaler's dark reign, and about a time-defying pact that may have kept his awful work alive down through the ages.

©2005 Elizabeth Kostova. All Rights Reserved. (P)2005 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

• 2006 Book Sense Book of the Year, Adult Fiction

"A bloodthirsty delight....Both literary and scary, this one is guaranteed to keep one reading into the wee hours." (Booklist)
"Along with all the fascinating historical information, there's also a mounting casualty count, and the big showdown amps up the drama by pulling at the heartstrings at the same time it revels in the gruesome. Exotic locales, tantalizing history, a family legacy and a love of the bloodthirsty: it's hard to imagine that readers won't be bitten, too." (Publishers Weekly)
"The Historian is artfully constructed and atmospheric." (Washington Post Book World)

unsatifying

Excellent story, innovative point of view, and a creative take on an OLD story. Never the less the author RUSHED to the finish!

Loved It

I was really surprised but enjoyed this book very much. It does pace a little slow, but for long rides and rainy days, its great.

In the tradition of Bram Stoker

As a child I devoured Bram Stoker's Dracula, hanging on every description of the drama, drawn out in the style of the Victorian novel written for when people had more time to read. Kostova's book is written in a similar style, if more feminine in its sympathies and inclinations. I loved this book as I loved Dracula, because I enjoy the vivid descriptions that lead up to moment of climactic revelation. Some modern readers may be put off by the anachronistic style but, if you have the patience, the character development and beautiful descriptions are well worth the time.

I also appreciated the alternating between male and female voices during the reading. It made for a clear distinction in time and place.

Flawed, but interesting

At the end of this novel, I find myself somewhat ambivalent. I love historical novels, and this definitely qualifies, being packed with (mostly) fascinating details of a time and place about which I knew virtually nothing. Between this book and a bit of googling, I now know a lot more about the history of the medieval Balkans, the fall of Constantinople, and the takeover of the Ottomans. The Dracula angle was a good driver, though it's execution was far from top notch.
Part of the blame for that could be laid at the feet of the narrators. For one thing, there is an ensemble cast, but you coulda fooled me; I assumed the young woman's voice and her father's were the doing ALL the voices. I've no idea whose voice the second female voice-actor did. Most of the narration and accents were adequate for the telling, but during scenes where what was taking place required required a build-up of tension and drama, and lots of expression, the voices without exception, remained as devoid of emotion as during the rest of the story. The ending, which should have been read as tense and climactic, was anything but. At the end of the day, neither my husband nor I had any trouble sticking with, and finishing the book, but there were some chapters where I drifted away and had to re-wind. I'd recommend the book, but don't expect to feel scared or very emotionally invested.

great story!

Won't look at Istanbul the same again! Blurred the lines of fantasy and reality so well that I'm not sure now if there "isn't" something demonic buried in any of those old religious structures...! so - yes, I enjoyed listening to every page.

Fantastic

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook, it is an amazing story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Historian?

Finding Rossi in the crypt was an extraordinary moment, plus the confrontation near the end of the book when Helen is found and the evil one is dealt with.

Have you listened to any of Justine Eyre and Paul Michael ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I had not heard them before.

If you could rename The Historian, what would you call it?

The name fits perfectly. But a runner up name could be The Archivist.

Any additional comments?

I've read the book and now listened to the audiobook, this is one of my favorite books.

Loved it

Would you consider the audio edition of The Historian to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the print version. But the audiobook was great. Narrated very well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes - I could have listened to this book all in one sitting. It keeps you hanging right to the end.

Any additional comments?

Great story. Well read. Goes between points of view very well - doesn't feel choppy.

Long winded, but an entertaining story

It takes a very long time for the story to get going and even then it's still somewhat slow, but it is very charming and entertaining.

Some of the plot devices are a little too convenient, but it's well worth listening to.

Very history heavy and monster light.

Would you listen to The Historian again? Why?

The length of the book is the only reason I would not listen to it again. It is very long and very slow. It is a good story though, so I will listen to it again at some point.

Marvelous book and performance

What a great book and reading! I had this book at home for a while, but didn't start reading it because it is such a large volume. When I saw that it is available on Amazon, I was very excited. I love Bram Stoker's Dracula, and I was wondering if this story would be great as well. It is marvelous and so well performed. Both narrators were fantastic! Buy it and listen to it. You won't be sorry.